Anyone who has ever had a significant other to share the holidays with knows that the first time away from home for Thanksgiving is a little strange. The gravy tastes different, and mom’s apple-raisin stuffing is nowhere to be found, but there is something special about being invited to sit around a table with a new family.

Ten-year-old me had pretty straightforward Thanksgiving plans. Wake up. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with dad. Eat a little breakfast, but not too much; don’t want to fill up before the main event! Help mom all day in the kitchen: Boil cranberries with sugar, and watch them pop. Peel mountains of potatoes. Set the table “Martha Stewart style”, as per mom’s request. Observe my brothers play video games and bum around the living room. Skip lunch, and eat dinner at an odd time. Watch brothers collapse on the couch exhausted after a “hard day’s work”.

Nowadays, my husband and I come as a package deal, alternating between in-laws each year. Traditions vary from house to house, but one thing is certain–she (or he) who roasts the turkey rules the roost (at least for a day). The turkey-roaster holds the job of historian and delegator, deciding which traditions to keep, and which to set aside, dictating what goes where, and who makes what.

The Thanksgiving table reflects its eating audience. As our family expands, so does our menu; starting with tradition, and branching off into new dishes that fit our vast array of nutritional needs and tastes.

Some may consider this sacrilege, but I have decided to eschew marshmallows this year. Instead, I’ll roast the yams with a spiced maple glaze. I don’t think the pilgrims would mind. For the vegans of the family, I will make my leek and mushroom wild rice (sans the butter and parmesan, of course). Grandma is making the cranberries–two kinds, but it just doesn’t seem like Thanksgiving unless I whip up a batch on my own. I think a batch of tangerine-ginger cranberry relish is in order. This year, the leftovers come before Thanksgiving!

All three side dishes are traditional enough to sit proudly aside mom’s family stuffing recipe or next to grandma’s roasted turkey, but new enough to mix things up a bit.

This year, Vernie (my grandma in-law) will be making the turkey, and grandpa’s favorite giblet stuffing. This year, traditionalists, turkey-lovers, vegans and vegetarians will unite around our table once again. Next year? Who knows what will be on the table…

Tangerine-Ginger Cranberry Relish

Makes 8-10 servings

6 cups cranberries (approx 2 12 oz packages)

2 small tangerines (or 1 medium), chopped into half-inch pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated

1 1/3 cup raw walnuts

1/2 to 3/4 cups of sugar, to taste

1 rounded 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon allspice

Toast the Walnuts:

Heat a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the walnuts in the pan until aromatic and golden, tossing and stirring often (Be careful…they will burn as soon as you look away!). Allow to cool slightly before chopping.

Chop, Chop:

Pulse the cranberries in a food processor until finely chopped. Remove to a bowl. Pulse the tangerine pieces until finely chopped. Place in the bowl with the cranberries. Pulse the toasted walnuts until chopped. Add to the bowl. Place the remaining ingredients in the bowl, stir, and serve.

Preheat the oven to 400˚F. In a large bowl, combine the yams, canola oil and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Toss to coat. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Flip the pieces, then roast for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until softened and browned in spots.

Make the Glaze:

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the maple syrup and brown sugar, stirring until the brown sugar is dissolved. Add the cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine.

Toast the Walnuts:

Heat a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the walnuts in the pan until aromatic and golden, tossing and stirring often (Be careful…they will burn as soon as you look away!). Allow to cool slightly then roughly chop.

Bake the Yams:

Reduce the oven temperature to 375˚F. Transfer the yams and toasted walnuts to a glass casserole dish. Pour the maple glaze over the yams and toss to coat. Bake for 20-30 minutes longer, or until the yams appear lightly carmelized.

Put 1 1/2 cups wild rice and 3 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 50 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit, covered for 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

Saute the vegetables and herbs:

Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until the butter is melted, and the mixture is hot. Saute the onion and leek until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, herbs, and a pinch of kosher salt. Saute for another minute, stirring constantly.

Push the leek-onion mixture to one side of the pan. Add one tablespoon olive oil to the empty side of the pan. Add the mushrooms and salt (to taste) to the empty side of the pan and saute for 2 minutes. Now, stir the leeks and mushrooms together and saute for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until mushrooms are cooked through, but still firm.

Add the sherry, and scrape all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, 1-2 minutes.

Mix the Rice:

Add the leek-mushroom mixture to the bowl with the wild rice. Add the parmigiano, pepper, lemon zest and half of the lemon juice. Stir to combine. Salt to taste. Does it need a little extra wake up? Add more lemon juice and/or salt until the flavors lock in.

And Some More Ideas…

Recipes with asterisks* are recipes I daydream about, but haven’t yet tried

Tried the rice. It is taking a solid hour and a half to do so will do this in two parts for Thanksgiving to lessen time on that day. I used too much of the dried thyme and rosemary – should have used maybe 1/4 of the amt stated in recipe since I am using dried but I used more like 1/2. Rule is 1 Tbsp fresh converts to 1 tsp dried but I just eyed it. Will add parmesan at end for more zip because I already used juice of the entire lemon. Will add salt, maybe that will help but the parmesan reggiano is salty..

Ha ha:) Yes. Kind of like a Jenga game. It took me about 2 weeks to tweeze all of the rice into the bowl…Actually, I haphazardly spilled it into the bowl and let it spill everywhere! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving too!

My mouth is watering already! How fortunate I am to have such a feast to enjoy. Everyone else reading this can eat their hearts out! 🙂 I love being your aunt-in-law, for many more reasons than the food, but your dishes are always fabulous and very much anticipated! 🙂 See you Thursday for our very broadly-designed and unusual family dinner.